1. The cauterization or destruction of tissue using electric current to generate heat.
2. A hand-held, needle-like cautery heated by an electric current.
3. The application of a needle or snare heated by electric current for the destruction of tissue; such as, for removing warts or polyps (benign tumors) and cauterizing small blood vessels to limit blood loss during surgical procedures.
4. The process of cutting and cauterizing skin simultaneously, or coagulating blood from vessels around a surgical incision by using an electrical-cautery instrument.
5. Cauterization using platinum wires heated to red or white heat by an electric current, either direct or alternating.

An surgical dissection in which both active and return electrodes are incorporated into a single hand-held instrument, so that the current passes between the tips of the two electrodes and affects only a small amount of tissue.

An electrocautery (electrosurgery) in which an electric current is applied through a hand-held active electrode and travels back to the generator through an inactive electrode attached to the patient (the grounding pad), so that the patient is part of the electrical circuit.